Parkers Crossroads in Henderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Battle of Parker's Crossroads

Tour Stop 5

—Capture of the Wagons and Attack on Dunham's Rear —

By David Graff, April 24, 2012

1. Battle of Parker's Crossroads Tour Stop 5 Marker

Inscription.

Mid-Day, December 31, 1862 At the beginning of the battle, the Union wagon train was north of the crossroads. It moved three times and was shelled once by Forrest's artillery. Its last location was in the creek bottom northwest of this spot. There, Confederate Major John P. Strange captured the wagons, which were guarded by one company each from the 122nd Illinois and the 39th Iowa. A number of the Union soldiers, now with a large part of their ammunition in the hands of the enemy, surrendered for lack of powder and ball.

East of here, a ravine ran northward to the rear of the Union line along the split-rail fence. Dismounted Confederate cavalrymen used this ravine to come at them from behind, hastening the appearance of white flags from the Union line.

Erected by Parkers Crossroads Battlefield Association.

Location. 35° 46.985′ N, 88° 23.246′ W. Marker is in Parkers Crossroads, Tennessee, in Henderson County. Marker can be reached from Expressway Church Road 0.8 miles west of Wildersville Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is beside a circular driveway into the park. Marker is in this post office area: Wildersville TN 38388, United States of America.

View to northwest from a knoll near the marker. The distant marker, "Union Wagon Train" has additional information on the capture and is located on the South Loop Trail at Tour Stop 7.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 3, 2013, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. This page has been viewed 361 times since then and 3 times this year. Last updated on March 10, 2014, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photos:1. submitted on January 3, 2013, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. 2, 3. submitted on August 22, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 4. submitted on January 3, 2013, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.